Arthur Benjamin, Harvey Mudd Math Professor, Is A 'Math Magician'

Can you calculate in your head: 4,868 squared? Harvey Mudd College's Professor of Mathematics Arthur Benjamin can. And he tries to beat the calculator.

For years, the U.S. has lagged behind other countries in math and science. A 2009 study showed that American students ranked 25th among 34 countries, behind nations like China, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong and Finland. A study released last month has a breakdown of the best and worst states for science and math education in high schools. Massachusetts tops the list while Mississippi trails as the worst in the country.

Perhaps we need more self-proclaimed math magicians like Benjamin in our schools? Watch as the professor, also author of Secrets of Mental Math, works his mental math magic and teaches his class:

Comments

[corwin]

02:37 PM on 08/12/2011

He's 'cheating' a bit.Or,you might say using tricks. It took me about 5 seconds.

[white dude lulz]

09:50 AM on 08/12/2011

I just fired up Matlab. Bring him on!

[raechel]

10:07 PM on 08/11/2011

There's a lot more to math than computation, of course. However, I guess you get a good understanding of some number theory by doing this. And it's truly great that he manages to get young people interested in math.

[adika3z]

05:28 PM on 08/11/2011

wow bravo smart math teacher..
keep up

[taurus58]

03:47 PM on 08/11/2011

we need more teachers like this, he has a passion for it.

[apc 2003]

02:53 PM on 08/11/2011

As a math teacher, I appreciate the passion toward teaching a rudimentary concept. Using the example of 13 squared, there is a mathematical process being used that makes the "move up and down 3, multiply, then add 3 squared" method. My concern is that with traditional multiplication methods, the actual math behind it gets lost in the flashiness of the "skill." I have no problem with this technique being implemented, but it's not a cure nor a skill anymore than what column or lattice multiplication has become.

[raechel]

10:09 PM on 08/11/2011

You learn the concepts by doing the problems. The more different methods and strategies you use, the deeper your understanding. And making it fun is motivation to try, right?

[CynAnne]

02:00 PM on 08/11/2011

Now my son is mentally 'doing the math' - so far he's at 16,000,000...something. Which is far better than I'd ever manage (even w/ paper to assist me)... ;)

[commentator101]

01:03 PM on 08/11/2011

I love seeing people who love something teach what they love.